Theft, Forgery Charges Against Employee

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Theft, Forgery Charges Against Employee

HONESDALE — A man from Wayne County is accused of stealing more than $71,000 from the company where he worked.

But this isn’t the first time Brian Fazio has been in trouble with the law.

Fazio, 33, of Lackawaxen turned himself in Friday at the Wayne County courthouse and was arraigned on felony theft charges.

He allegedly stole more than $71,000 from Leeward Construction while he was working there as an assistant controller.

Fazio didn’t have anything to say as he was escorted out of the Wayne County Courthouse in Honesdale in handcuffs.

According to court papers, Fazio was in charge of writing checks at Leeward Construction beginning in 2011, but was forging signatures.

Troopers believe Fazio forged a check earlier this week, and asked another employee at Leeward to deposit it in his account. That employee realized the check didn’t seem right and reported it to management.

But Fazio has been in trouble with the law in the past.

According to federal court papers, Fazio is under orders to pay more than $102,000 to the Department of Education. In 2009 he pleaded guilty to federal mail fraud. Fazio was taking out more loan money than he needed to attend an online college in Colorado.

He also applied for and received loans by using the names of other people, forging their signatures.

We do not know what Fazio did with the more than $71,000 he allegedly stole from Leeward Construction.